Nevada County picayune., 1887-06-15

 am quite sure"
 "I'm sorry you are not sure, .Ia- cob," said he; "I should have liked to see yon at church tonight. l don't feel very we'll to-day, so will you come in now and stay the afternoon with me?"
 ''I wish l could, Sol,' said |, as .jauntily as possible, "bnt the fact is I've promised an old friend at Luckheaton" UuckheatOn lay in the direction exactly opposite to Blagly) "to go over and have a quiet chat with him. He is not able 10 go about much himself"
 l suppose Solomon was shaking hands in his ordinary manner, but his long fingers seemed 10 me to have tied themselves about mine, holding me back.
 "IOu want a new umbrella. SOl," remarked 1, neatly preparing the way for the gift l had in store for him; and, as l thought, turning the conversation with consummate tact.
 Do Iw asked Solomon, looking down upon the machine as if he had never seen it before in his life. We both of us want good many new things, Jacob: new habits, new aims, new-'
 "Ah. yes, indeed we dow sighed l, as l felt the grip of his fingers relaxing. "You're looking all right, l am glad to see. Don't go and fancy yourself ailing, Sol; it's a womanish trick, and not at all like you"
 "No, 1 am not fanciful," he said, !, tucking his book tenderly under his long arm. 'Good.bye, then, Jacob; shall see you again some time tonight, shall I!'
 Awkard, that query at the end, but I nodded yes to him just as if had known - Let me see, where was I! We'll, Solomon and I parted very good friends. He looked back at me with a smile, as I waited and afterward looked back at him, with a smile, too, for, at the moment turned, a branch of his old pear.tree caught his hat (which he always wore at the very back of his head) and kept it. and he walked on to the parsonage door without an idea that his head was bare. l hurried on cheerful ly then, feeling pretty sure was safe. Solomon would be in his study all the afternoon, and in his pulpit most of the evening. Then he would drink his cup of strong tea, and sleep the sleep of parson till morning. with his lattice win. dow open, and square of the night sky exactly before his eyes.
 "My sleep is calm," he used to say, If my last look has been on Heavcn.n
 Well, we had rare sport on that Sunday afternoon, and our bird came oll the winner, though the squire's was as plucky a little cock as ever got beaten.
 Joe gave us supper after the fight; then we dispatched a bottle of port apiece, over settling our bets; then we gave our minds to pleasure, and enjoyed il good brew of Joe's punch.
 AS it was Sunday, we determined to separate in good time, so when it got toward eleven we set out, while Joe stood in his lighted hall way. shouting hearty gOOd-nights after us. had waited to make an appointment with hlm for the next day, that we might conclude the bargain for the colt, so l was lit- tie behind the others in starting.
 "Take care of yourself" called Joe; "you have the most money and the furthest 10 go. Mind the notes. Five twemties; and l've copied the numbers, that we may be safe. Tell the squire so, if he waylays you in the dark"
 This was Joe's parting joke, and when I answered it l gave a kind. ly tonch to the pocket.bOOk in my hreast-pocket; and the squire. who heard us. called out that he daren't o,ni.ht, as there was a moon he hind the clouds.
 was riding a favOrite little mare, who knew every step of the way between my own stables and Joe's, so ! just rode on peacefully i, tba 1nrL